AN entire generation has gone by since the United States last saw this tableau of American history: every living president together at the White House.

Picking up on an idea from president-elect Barack Obama, President George Bush hosted a lunch for the incoming president and the three former presidents: Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter on Wednesday. It was the first time since 1981 that all the presidents have gathered at the White House. At that time the reason was a grave one: who would attend the funeral of Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian president assassinated in October of that year.

Bush and Obama also met privately for 30 minutes in the Oval Office before the lunch.

Considering the bond they hold in history, US presidents get together infrequently, particularly at the White House. And when they are in the same room, it is usually for a milestone or sombre moment — a funeral of a world leader, an opening of a presidential library, a commemoration of history.

The White House said Barack Obama suggested the idea of a presidential gathering when he met President Bush in November. And Bush went for it.

When asked what the five men would talk about, Bush said recently: “I don’t know. I’m sure (Obama’s) going to ask us all questions, I would guess. If not, we’ll just share war stories.”

They have plenty of those, political and otherwise. Their paths to power have long been entwined.

Jimmy Carter lost the presidency in the Nov 1980 elections to Ronald Reagan, whose running mate was George H.W. Bush. Bush later won election in 1988, but lost in 1992 after one term to Bill Clinton. Then Bush’s son, the current president, defeated Clinton’s vice president Al Gore, in 2000. And Barack Obama won in November last year after long linking his opponent John McCain to President Bush.—AP